Education Department officials reached consensus on proposed regulations for Workforce Pell Grants, setting a projected rollout for July and obligating colleges to build data, accreditation, and staffing capacity quickly. The new program expands Pell eligibility to short-term, career-focused training programs — primarily at community and technical colleges — but includes completion and employment thresholds institutions must meet to qualify. Department officials and industry advocates warned that many colleges lack the data-tracking systems and compliance staff needed to document employment outcomes and program quality. The proposed rules specify program length requirements (minimum eight weeks, under 15 weeks or 600 clock hours) and leave key operational details to institutional implementation. Colleges that can stand up rapid reporting and placement tracking may capture increased low-income enrollment and new revenue streams; others risk diverting resources to compliance or failing to qualify. The regulatory timeline tightness raises questions about program integrity and potential short-term quality trade-offs as schools scramble to satisfy eligibility criteria.